The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has launched the National Horticultural Seed Roadmap on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Accra.

The roadmap is expected to strengthen Ghana’s horticultural seed sector and improve farmers’ access to quality seeds and seedlings. It will provide strategic guidance for the next three to five years. It focuses on increasing the availability, accessibility and use of quality and improved seeds and seedlings adapted to local conditions.

Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. John Setor Dumelo, said the roadmap was an important step towards building a stronger and more responsive seed system for the horticultural sector.

“We want seed sovereignty. This means building Ghana’s capacity to develop, test, multiply, and supply quality seeds suited for our conditions.”

He said the roadmap was developed through contributions from government institutions, researchers, seed companies, farmer organisations and development partners, with particular relevance to crops such as tomatoes, onions, peppers and indigenous vegetables.

Hon. Dumelo said implementation would prioritise strengthening local seed production and enterprises, improving farmers’ access to quality planting materials and supporting the development of varieties suited to Ghanaian conditions.

He called on the Directorate of Crop Services and the Technical Working Group on Seeds to develop a practical implementation programme with clear responsibilities, timelines and financing arrangements.

The Deputy Minister said progress should ultimately be reflected in “more reliable access to quality seeds and seedlings, and stronger local enterprises.”

The Netherlands Embassy, represented by Madam Inge Tenniglo, reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting Ghana’s horticultural seed sector.

She described the roadmap as “laying the foundation for the future of Ghana’s horticulture sector”, noting that it could create opportunities for farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs and young professionals.

Madam Tenniglo also expressed the hope that the roadmap would be fully owned by the Ministry and integrated into the Ghana National Seed Plan, emphasising that its development was a collective effort involving stakeholders across the seed sector.

The roadmap is expected to provide a coordinated framework for strengthening Ghana’s horticultural seed industry, supporting local seed production and improving the availability of quality planting materials for farmers.

The launch brought together stakeholders from the public sector, seed industry, research institutions, farmer organisations and development partners.